So I could write a big, long paragraph going on about how sorry I truly am that it’s been two months since I’ve posted anything on here. But seeing as how anybody reading this knows me and knows my blogging track record, I know you’re not surprised so I won’t waste yours or (more importantly) MY time. Cool. Moving on.
I could also spend hours telling you about every little thing that’s happened in the last two months, but I really don’t have the energy, so I’m going to give you the much abbreviated, boiled-down version. Here goes:
- I ended up getting a boondoggle after all: snowmobile ride to Room with a View (basically a Scott tent set up on the slopes of Mt. Erubus). First time I ever drove a snowmobile, so that was actually kind of cool.
- Saw my first Emperor penguin! Even though it was molting, and therefore a little scruffy looking, it was awesome to finally see one up close. (I still love the Adelies though – I think they have a little more personality than the Emperors.)
The molting Emperor penguin I saw out at Pegasus Runway.
- Went on R&R in New Zealand in order to rest up and stock up on supplies before winter. Left on February 5 and was gone until the 13th, so I missed most of the hustle and bustle surrounding vessel offload. Bummer.
- Spent my R&R living out of my rental car, eating gobs of homemade guacamole, and swimming in the Tasman Sea every morning. Very nice and welcome break before returning to MacTown for 8-ish more months of cold, dark, and work.
Cool beach I hiked to while on R&R, near the Farewell Spit in the NW corner of the South Island of New Zealand (quite the address).
The beautiful Abel Tasman park, where I spent the majority of my R&R.
My swimming spot, Abel Tasman, South Island, New Zealand.
- Despite the bleak outlook of a MacTown winter I presented in the last bullet item, I am very much looking forward to winter. As to why, I will actually spend a little time talking about what’s been happening.
Winter. It had a bit of a delayed start this year. Traditionally, the last flight leaves the station somewhere around the 20th of February. This year, there was the “first last flight” that left the station on precisely the 20th, but there was a group of Fuelies staying to finish up a special project, so the actual LAST last flight didn’t leave until March 5th. On the 5th, a large part of the winterover population gathered at the Chalet, poured glasses of ginger ale (it was during work hours, so no champagne), and watched as the Australian Airbus lifted off from Pegasus, banked, flew by all of us, and tipped its wings in a farewell salute. It’s an interesting sensation watching a plane fly away without you, knowing that you won’t see another for six months. No new people – just the 198 (I think that’s the population) of us that are here for winter – no fresh fruits or vegetables, no mail. No contact with the outside world. Well, except the internet and telephones. We’re not totally cut off, but we’re pretty isolated. I expected to have some sort of feeling of nervousness, apprehension, or something along similar lines as I watched that plane fly away, but it I didn’t. I was just excited to see the other side of this place.
Brooks watching the last flight fly away.
Since that last flight left, there’s been no shortage of things to do. I always had this idea that everything would sort of slow down and get sleepy around here once winter started. It’s definitely slower-paced, more laid back; we have lots of work to get done, so we’re never standing around with nothing to do, but there’s not the constant rushing and sense of urgency that seems to characterize the summer season, or Mainbody. Of course, that makes sense as the summer season only lasts for about 4.5 months, which isn’t a big time frame for projects that must get done during the “warm” and sun-lit months. So yeah, winter equals chill on the work front. But as far as extracurricular activities, there’s almost too much going on. Themed parties at Gallagher’s, Monday-night screenings of Project Runway, Zumba dance-aerobics, sign language classes, trivia nights, dinner invitations to Scott Base, karaoke, bingo, lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Okay, so I lied. There are no lions, tigers, or bears anywhere near this desolate landscape, but the rest is really true. Things happening almost every night of the week. Last weekend was our first 2-day weekend (we get one every month during the winter), and it was jam-packed starting midweek: Wednesday there was trivia (our team won!); Thursday I went and had dinner at Scott Base with some friends, met some Kiwis, then hustled back to MacTown for karaoke; Friday, I had my weekly radio show right after work, and then went to the Carp Shop/Heat Trace “Winter Chill” gathering, where there were bbq eats and live music treats; Saturday was an all-day affair at the Heavy Shop, with more bbq and a loooong horseshoe tournament – in which my partner and I placed 5th (I’ve been doing pretty okay at the competitive stuff 
, followed by a belated St. Patrick’s Day-themed party at Gallagher’s and a friend’s birthday party at Hut 10. Whhheeeeeeww. There were some more things going on on Sunday, but I had my turn to serve as a Community DA and I was pooped, so as soon as my DA shift ended I went home and veged. So yeah, good times in MacTown.
Dancin' at the "Gallagher's Island" party.
As for weather and sunlight, it hasn’t been too cold. I mean, the days of walking around outside in just a fleece or my favorite hoodie are definitely over, but it hasn’t been so bitterly cold I can’t bear to have any square inch of skin exposed. We had one Condition 2 alert a couple weeks ago, but it only lasted for about an hour. I can’t wait to have a Condition 1… But yeah, I keep hearing people who’ve been here for past winters say it’s been a relatively mild March. Even the skuas stuck around for quite a while, although I haven’t seen one in about a week and a half so I think they have finally left for the season. The last one I saw was Fred, stalking the Highway 1 door as always, waiting for some unsuspecting sucker to come out with unguarded food – Fred rocks.
We still have sunlight for now, although the sun isn’t getting very high above the horizon. It doesn’t make it over the pass or the ridge behind the station anymore; in fact, the only real rays of sun we get, if it’s not too cloudy to be obscured, is in the late afternoon right before the sun goes down. But at least it’s still light during the work day. For a while I was getting some spectacular sunsets right out my bedroom window, but now the sun is setting a little farther to the…. right, whatever direction that is. 
Just kidding. North. The sun is setting a little farther north on the horizon, so it’s sort of out of my window scope. It’s getting almost fully dark at night now, and when it’s not overcast you can see stars. I saw my first ones a little over a week ago – the very first stars I’ve ever seen in Antarctica – which was a pretty special feeling.
Antarctic sunset over the Royal Societies as seen from my bedroom window.
Be sure to check out my Flickr page for more pics!
Well, that’s all I’ve got for now. I’ll try to keep this more regularly updated, which shouldn’t be as daunting a task now that I’m “caught up.” Hope everyone stateside is warm and comfortable. The sun is leaving me and moving farther your way – love him for me.
Ceds
